Apple may push interactive catalogs as part of 'iPad 3' rollout on Wednesday

On the eve of Apple's expected unveiling of the third-generation iPad, the company has introduced a new Catalogs category to the App Store, hinting at a possible announcement related to interactive catalogs on the iPad as part of Wednesday's big event.

The arrival of the new category appears to have been premature, as it has currently has no popular apps listed in iTunes Preview and has yet to appear in All Categories listing for the App Store on iTunes.

Considering that Apple is widely expected to unveil a Retina Display-equipped iPad on Wednesday, the company is likely readying a push for the release of ultra-high-resolution interactive catalogs delivered to the iPad via the App Store.

"The impact of the iPad in the shopping and publication industries has been massive. Many thousands of apps have been added over the last 2 years to address the consumers need to interact with their favorite books, magazines and brands within an iPad optimized experience," said Joaquin Ruiz, CEO of the leading catalog app, "Catalog Spree."

"Adding an app category is not something that Apple does lightly and we believe Apple's decision reflects the importance of this use-case in the Apple App Store ecosystem," he added.

Prior to Tuesday, "Catalog Spree" and other shopping entertainment apps had been categorized as "Lifestyle" apps. However, Apple has already begun switching applications over to the new category, as the application is now listed under Catalogs. The transition still has some kinks, though. For instance, clicking on the new category in iTunes takes users to a blank screen that says only "iPad Catalogs."

Apple rival Google has already launched its own initiative for digital catalogs on tablets. Though Google, of course, has a vested interest in promoting its catalog service for the Android operating system, it does also have an iPad version of the application. Google Catalogs is also now listed under Apple's new Catalogs category.

In addition to an improved display, the next-generation iPad is expected to include a faster processor and 4G Long-Term Evolution connectivity. Apple's March 7 media event kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif. AppleInsider will have full, live coverage.

Catalogs are for selling. I wonder if Apple is planning to let retailers sell their products via iPads and, if so, what sort of cut it'll take. Insisting on 30% will get few takers. Charge 2-3% like credit cards and they'll get a flood of businesses.

And since prices and product lines change, they'll need a auto-revision scheme.

Catalogs are for selling. I wonder if Apple is planning to let retailers sell their products via iPads and, if so, what sort of cut it'll take. Insisting on 30% will get few takers. Charge 2-3% like credit cards and they'll get a flood of businesses.

And since prices and product lines change, they'll need a auto-revision scheme.

I'll give you 10% as the Apple cut...

This is aimed at Amazon, not Google..

You pissameoff -- i gonna eat your lunch!

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Catalogs are for selling. I wonder if Apple is planning to let retailers sell their products via iPads and, if so, what sort of cut it'll take. Insisting on 30% will get few takers. Charge 2-3% like credit cards and they'll get a flood of businesses.

And since prices and product lines change, they'll need a auto-revision scheme.

If the way they let people "buy" through apps is to use their iTS account for the purchase and take the standard transaction fee that could be huge... and convenient.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

Catalogs are for selling. I wonder if Apple is planning to let retailers sell their products via iPads and, if so, what sort of cut it'll take. Insisting on 30% will get few takers. Charge 2-3% like credit cards and they'll get a flood of businesses.

And since prices and product lines change, they'll need a auto-revision scheme.

How about 0%... Apple only takes a cut of content sold through their devices that is meant to be used on the device, not physical (real world) items. Apple doesn't charge any fees for Amazon or eBay or any other shopping app.

Disclaimer: The things I say are merely my own personal opinion and may or may not be based on facts. At certain points in any discussion, sarcasm may ensue.

I think I've probably forgotten about another half dozen HTML 5 + CSS 3 apps that create multimedia / interfaces (assuming they've followed their other technology). The Widgets also use much of that in combination with a few Objective C components you can put in the back end.

Apple really needs to consolidate all these various publishing and multimedia formats. They can grow their developer market if they try and stick to a one platform that could have different specs for delivery.

Ohmigod! That's, like so totally kewl! I am sooooo jazzed! A new way to buy things! I just totally absolutely really (really!) love things! Especially while I'm buying them!

Of course, being an American, over 90% of what I buy quite literally and actually ends up in the trash within 6 months, no hyperbole or metaphor required.

But Whatever. It's just so totally awesome to be able to buy tihs! And anyway, isn't that, like, why we're here? I mean, Jesus tried to help the poor so that they could buy things! I so totally heart Apple! I mean, like, they build the best sewer pipes in the whole world!

The straw is so totally awesome that I never even notice what I'm sucking through it.

(I really can't wait to buy the new iPad. Math really is hard and I really would rather go shopping. And I really do I hate myself. I'm also very tired, my head hurts, and I I think I'm about to cry. Does anyone here know how we got like this? Will somebody pat my shoulder, say "There, there" and tell me it'll all be alright, even though we both know that's a lie?)

I think I've probably forgotten about another half dozen HTML 5 + CSS 3 apps that create multimedia / interfaces (assuming they've followed their other technology). The Widgets also use much of that in combination with a few Objective C components you can put in the back end.

Apple really needs to consolidate all these various publishing and multimedia formats. They can grow their developer market if they try and stick to a one platform that could have different specs for delivery.